Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy最新文献

Using data from an online, cross-sectional U.S. nationally representative survey, we analyzed participants' responses to an open-ended item that asked them to look back on their entire lives and to describe their favorite aspects of being sexual with a partner. These text responses (n = 2755) were grouped into 22 codes, the most common of which were closeness/intimacy, specific sex acts, feels good, love/caring, satisfying/pleasing a partner, and orgasm. The present study extends the existing literature on positive aspects of sexuality.

Individuals who score highly on the dark triad (dT) are linked to the term "toxic" in romantic relationships. Those with more dT traits in their relationships have been described as conflicted and manipulative. The present study sought to address the research question of whether the dT construct significantly predicts relationship expectations and attitudes in intimate relationships. Moreover, the study examined the role of the dT in sexual aggression within intimate relationships. A non-clinical sample completed the Short Dark Triad (SD3), the Relationship and Attachment Personality Inventory (BB-PI), and the Sexual Aggression & Victimization Scale (SAV-S) via an online survey (N = 624; N_female = 481, N_male = 143). Intercorrelations, t-tests for independent samples, and hierarchical regressions were analyzed. Results indicated that the dT traits were predictive of relationship expectations and behavior, particularly in relation to dominance and aggression, as well as sexually deviant and risky relationship expectations. The moderating effect of sex on the findings was not statistically significant. The dT demonstrated a significant correlation with sexual aggression perpetration. Significant correlations were identified between the dT and the perpetration of sexual violence in intimate relationships. Further study of the dT may contribute to risk assessment of sexual aggression in intimate relationships.

Homework is a key factor in the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions, yet there is no standardized method for measuring homework adherence, particularly in interventions targeting female sexual dysfunction (FSD). This study aimed to describe current methods used to assess homework adherence in research on mindfulness-based interventions for FSD. A descriptive secondary analysis was conducted using data from three randomized clinical trials, totaling 197 women. The analysis focused on the frequency and duration of formal and informal mindfulness practices, assessed immediately post-treatment and at follow-up (6-12 months). Results indicated diverse and inconsistent methods to evaluate homework completion, with a general decline in adherence over time. Participants showed moderate engagement, with formal practices declining more sharply than informal ones and brief exercises showing marked reductions in frequency. These findings highlight the need for consistent monitoring of homework adherence to ensure treatment fidelity and to optimize outcomes. Strengths include the longitudinal approach and methodological recommendations. Limitations involve the use of unvalidated and variable measurement tools. In conclusion, this research underscores the urgent need for psychometrically validated instruments to assess homework adherence in mindfulness-based interventions for FSD and provides practical guidance for researchers and clinicians.

Latino sexual minority men (LSMM) experience sexual and mental health disparities relative to heterosexual men and, in some cases, White sexual minority men. These may be partially addressable through enhancing LSMM's romantic and sexual relationship skills. However, there have been no adapted relationship education programs for LSMM. The aim of the current study was to use community input to identify needed adaptations to an evidence-based relationship education program (Within My Reach) to make it culturally-grounded for LSMM. We first conducted a "theater test" to provide training in the original curriculum to eight LSMM in South Florida. We also conducted two focus groups with topical experts. We elicited feedback about curriculum content to add, re-frame, or remove and used rapid qualitative analysis to distill themes and responsive adaptations. The data converged into four themes: (1) navigating Latino culture as a sexual minority man, (2) traversing sexual minority developmental experiences within Latino culture, (3) centering sex and sexual health, and (4) infusing strengths and optimism. Participants voiced a need for this type of tailored relationship skills program for LSMM. Findings point to key intersectional themes to incorporate when adapting relationship-focused programs for LSMM, which may also be translatable to other types of sexual and behavioral health interventions for LSMM.

Female-perpetrated child sexual abuse (CSA) is a major social taboo that often results in individuals facing challenges in disclosing their experiences and accessing appropriate support services. The present study aims to identify the differences between CSA by female solo perpetrators and CSA by female co-perpetrators. We analyzed data from an anonymous online survey involving individuals who reported their experiences of female-perpetrated CSA. A total of 186 participants were divided into those who had been abused by solo perpetrators (n = 88) and those who had experienced CSA by female co-perpetrators (n = 98). We compared their experiences across various characteristics. Our findings suggest that those affected by CSA by female co-perpetrators report abuse that had an earlier onset, was more severe, and lasted longer than the experiences reported by those affected by CSA by female solo perpetrators. The reports further indicate that CSA by female co-perpetrators is more likely to be committed by unknown perpetrators and occurs more frequently in religious institutions than CSA by female solo perpetrators. These findings highlight a need to raise awareness about different forms of female-perpetrated CSA.

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in men, characterized by persistent and distressing low sexual desire, is associated with worse sexual and relationship well-being. Sexual rejection is a common and emotionally laden event that may be especially salient among couples coping with HSDD given likely desire discrepancies between partners. How men with HSDD reject their partner's sexual advances (i.e., deflecting, hostile, reassuring, or assertive rejection behaviors) may reflect their attempts to regulate emotions and have implications for well-being. In this study, men with HSDD (N = 51) reported on their sexual rejection behaviors and both they and their partners reported on sexual and relationship outcomes; results were not adjusted for multiple testing to prioritize discovery. Deflecting sexual rejection was associated with both partners' lower sexual satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, and perceived partner responsiveness, and men with HSDD's greater sexual distress. Hostile rejection was associated with partners' lower sexual satisfaction and both couple members' lower relationship satisfaction. Reassuring and assertive behaviors were associated with men with HSDD's higher sexual satisfaction and perceived partner responsiveness. Reducing less adaptive rejection strategies, like deflection and hostility, and increasing more adaptive strategies, like reassuring or assertive rejection, may be intervention targets to help couples coping with HSDD.

Treatment plans are an important, ethical, and often required aspect of clinical care for mental health providers, though in many cases can be inconsistent with the aims of sex therapy. Utilizing the Sexual Health and Integrative Pleasure (SHIP) Model as a conceptual framework, we address often overlooked treatment planning considerations in sex therapy. Two detailed case studies are used to demonstrate how the SHIP model can be applied in clinical practice via its 5 main components: sexual adaptation and resilience, sexual literacy, relational intimacy, multidisciplinary care, and pleasure-oriented positive sexuality. We also address the role of systemic, intersectional, empirical, lifespan, and biopsychosociocultural approaches in effective sex therapy treatment. With tangible examples for clinicians to directly apply to their sex therapy practice, this paper provides guidance on an important component of clinical care for which many providers have received limited training.

Self-Determination Theory helps explain why individuals may use pornography to cope with stress, negative emotions, or boredom, potentially leading to problematic use. This study also examined whether regular physical exercise mitigates this. A total of 600 Chinese adult pornography users (M_age = 32.31, 39.83% women) were recruited. Findings revealed that coping motivations of pornography use worked as a mediator between basic psychological need frustration and problematic pornography use. Crucially, regular exercise significantly moderated these links: exercisers showed a weaker connection from needs frustration to coping motivations but a stronger connection from coping motivations to problematic use. Network analysis further clarified the specific roles of relatedness frustration and boredom avoidance in the first pathway, and stress reduction motivation in the second. While exercise demonstrates protective potential by attenuating the impact of need frustration on coping motivations, this cross-sectional study design precludes causal inferences.

Infertility in women causes profound psychological distress and may affect the coupled relationship. Few studies have considered the strengthening of the relationship, or marital benefit, of women with infertility. This study sought to investigate factors associated with marital benefit, such as infertility-related stress, partner communication, sexual satisfaction, coping strategies, and quality of life satisfaction. We used a descriptive cross-sectional study design to recruit 197 U.S. women with infertility who were undergoing fertility treatments from infertility-related Facebook support groups to complete an online survey. We used SPSS 28 to conduct descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and multiple linear regression. Partner communication, sexual satisfaction, primary infertility, meaning-based coping, marital stress, quality of life satisfaction, and attending a support group were significantly associated with marital benefit. The multiple linear regression model accounted for 43% of the variance in marital benefit, and six variables had a significant relationship with marital benefit: meaning-based coping (p <.001), marital stress (p = .003), partner communication (p <.003), primary infertility (p = .014), active-avoidance coping (p = .020), and attending a support group (p = .006). Interventions to decrease marital stress and improve coping and partner communication could be beneficial to facilitating marital benefit in women with infertility.

In this study, data from 7,440 patients from six Ibero-American countries were analyzed, focusing on men who consulted for erectile dysfunction (ED). Participants were queried about infidelity in their relationships. Results showed a negative correlation between infidelity and the severity of ED, suggesting that the likelihood of infidelity decreases as the severity of ED increases. Additionally, alcohol consumption and age were identified as significant predictors of infidelity, with notable country-specific variations. No significant associations were found between infidelity and other variables such as comorbidities affecting erectile function, sexual activity frequency, or suspected hypogonadism, measured using the AMS questionnaire.